Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1750-1751, 1826-1832
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‡TORR, n. Also tor(e). [tor]
1. Any ornamental projection, esp. one of the carved wooden knobs decorating the corners of old-fashioned cradles, chairs or beds (Abd.4 1928), the projecting tops of the side-posts of a box-cart (Dmf. 1957).Sc. 1826 Lamkin in Child Ballads (1956) II. 334:
A' the four tors o the cradle red blood sprang.
2. The bow or pommel of a saddle (Sc. 1808 Jam.); the horn of a side-saddle (Fif. 1869 J. C. Morton Cycl. Agric. II. 726).Abd. 1750 Abd. Journal (29 May):
The makers Name, Proctor, is stitch'd into one of the Tores.Sc. 1751 Session Papers, Petition J. Mitchell (12 Feb.) 2:
She was by them laid a-cross the Horse, on the Torr of the Saddle.Sc. 1828 Thomas o Yonderdale in Child Ballads No. 253 A. xxi.:
On the tor o her saddle A courtly bird did sweetly sing.Gall. 1832 J. Denniston Craignilder 68:
O'er Saddle tore the waters roar.
3. Transf. in comb. tore-bane, the prominence on the pelvic bone of a horse, cow or sheep (Rnf. c.1850 Crawfurd MSS. (N.L.S.) T. 137; Ayr., sm.Sc. 1972).
[O.Sc. tor, a kind of pinnacle, 1501, = 1., of a cradle, 1560, pommel, 1562, ad. Gael. torr, conical hill, eminence, heap, torran, a knob.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Torr n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/torr>
